Chrysanthemum plant named ‘White Yoneedle’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘White Yoneedle’, characterized by its upright plant habit; dark green-colored foliage, freely and uniformly flowering habit; quilled decorative-type inflorescences that are about 7.7 cm in diameter; attractive white-colored quilled ray florets; strong peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘White Yoneedle’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘White Yoneedle’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. and Bogota, Colombia. Theobjective of the program is to create and develop new cut Chrysanthemumcultivars having inflorescences with desirable floret coloration andgood inflorescence form and substance.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in December, 2000, in Salinas, Calif. of a proprietaryChrysanthemum×morifolium seedling selection identified as code numberT2987, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryChrysanthemum×morifolium seedling selection identified as code numberT2392, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newChrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Bogota, Colombia in June, 2002. The selectionof this plant was based on its desirable ray floret color and goodinflorescence form and substance.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Bogota, Colombia since August, 2002, has shownthat the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar White Yoneedle have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘White Yoneedle’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘White Yoneedle’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Chrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Upright cut Chrysanthemum that is usually grown as a        naturally spray.    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage.    -   3. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.    -   4. Quilled decorative-type inflorescences that are about 7.7 cm        in diameter.    -   5. Attractive white-colored quilled ray florets.    -   6. Response time about 62 days.    -   7. Strong peduncles.    -   8. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences and foliage        maintaining good substance and color for about two weeks in an        interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower a couple days earlier        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower more freely than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are quilled        whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are        not quilled.    -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent        selection differ in ray floret color as developing ray florets        of plants of the female parent selection are slightly cream to        green in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower slightly later than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower more freely than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are quilled        whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are        not quilled.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Sky, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,759. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Bogota, Colombia, plants of thenew Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Sky in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were shorter than plants of        the cultivar Sky.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered more freely and more        uniformly than plants of the cultivar Sky.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences        than plants of the cultivar Sky.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering stem of ‘White Yoneedle’ grown as a naturalspray.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical inflorescences of ‘White Yoneedle’ grown as a natural spray.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Oxnard, Calif. during the winter and spring in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practices whichapproximate those generally used in commercial Chrysanthemum production.Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants. Plants were grown as single-stem natural spray cutChrysanthemums. The photographs and measurements were taken when plantswere about three months old.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar White    Yoneedle.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number T2987,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number T2392,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten to 14 days with soil            temperatures of about 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut flower that is            typically grown as a natural spray.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            112 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About            3.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color:            146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 10 cm. Width: About 5.2 cm. Apex: Acuminate to            mucronate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed; sinuses            mostly parallel. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent; veins prominent on lower surface. Color:            Developing foliage, upper surface: Darker than 147A.            Developing foliage, lower surface: 146A. Fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: 147A; venation, 146C. Fully expanded            foliage, lower surface: Slightly darker than 147B; venation,            146D. Petiole: Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with            quill-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals,            arising from leaf axils. Ray and disc florets develop            acropetally on a capitulum. Uniformly flowering.            Inflorescences not fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed to two weeks            of long day/short night conditions after planting followed            by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower            about 62 days later when grown as a natural spray.        -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,            inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and            substance for about two weeks in an interior environment.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, about 16            to 17 inflorescences per stem develop.        -   Spray width.—About 14 cm.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.7 cm. Depth (height):            About 4 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm. Receptacle diameter:            About 2.3 cm. Receptacle height: About 7 mm.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Ovate. Height: About 1.6 cm.            Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Color: 155A.        -   Ray florets.—Shape: Quilled. Surface: Mostly flat. Aspect:            Initially upright; when mature, about 45° from perpendicular            to the peduncle. Length: About 4.3 cm. Width: About 3 mm.            Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous; longitudinally ridged. Number of ray            florets per inflorescence: About 160 arranged in numerous            rows. Color: When opening, upper surface: 155B. When            opening, lower surface: 155A. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: 155D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Length: About 6 mm.            Diameter, apex: About 1.5 mm. Diameter, base: About 1 mm.            Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 94. Color:            Immature: Close to 144A. Mature: Apex: Close to 12A.            Mid-section: Close to 14B. Base: Close to 145D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence/arrangement: About 22            arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:            About 4 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.            Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: First peduncle: About 10.2 cm. Fourth            peduncle: About 13 cm. Seventh peduncle: About 16.3 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: About 30° to 35° from vertical.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent; longitudinally ridged.            Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.            Anther color: Close to 14B. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen            color: 14B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.            Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma            color: 12A. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: 145C.            Ovary color: 157A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    demonstrated good tolerance to low temperatures of about 4° C. and    high temperatures of about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘White Yoneedle’ as illustrated and described. 